Speculation on near-future hard sci-fi, often with reference to GURPS Transhuman Space (TS).If you have enjoyed this article or it has been helpful to you please feel free to show your appreciation. Thank you.

Thursday, 30 June 2016

In
the late 20th century special reconnaissance missions would normally
be performed by small parties of highly trained men. In the TS-era the same mission
is more commonly performed by a collection of diverse robotic systems.

One
of the drawbacks of using small robotic systems is that they are limited to
broadcasting in the microwave range. The systems are physically too small to
use antenna suitable for longer radio wavelengths. Such microwave transmissions
are often limited to line of sight use since microwaves cannot pass around
hills or mountains like longer radiowaves can. These relatively low power
transmissions are often limited in range too. In populated fifth-wave urban
areas this may not be a problem since there are abundant signal boost and relay
systems designed to facilitate the operation of wearable computing systems. In
abandoned or rural areas buildings and other terrain features may have a
significant effect.

Often
it is not practical for a reconnaissance system to transmit a continuous,
real-time feed. Transmissions are often highly directional short duration
bursts.

Due
to these practicalities a reconnaissance force will include at least one relay
centre. Such a system collects transmissions from reconnaissance systems and
passes them on using its more sophisticated broadcast capabilities. One form of
relay system in common use is known as a “comms-crab”.

The
comms-crab is a small cybershell about the size of a small dog (SM -4). It has
four short, stocky legs. Very little detail of the crab will be visible since
it is covered with a tangle of varicloth strips. The crab often looks like a
bush or patch of forest floor. The crab includes a number of satellite robot
systems. This include a repair cyberswarm, utility robo-roaches, a mecho-gecko
and a snakebot. The snakebot is of the variety that has graspers at each end
and can be used as a manipulative limb by the comms-crab. It is also used as a
periscope and as an auxiliary monopole antenna.

At
the top of the comms-crab is a folding parabolic antenna. This is primarily
used for satellite communications but can also be directed to communicate with
high flying aircraft. It can be repositioned to transmit to lower receiving stations.

Comms-crabs
can climb tree trunks to attain better broadcast positions. They are not so
adept at climbing rockfaces or narrow trees. In such a situation the comms-crab
will attach its satcom antenna to a snakebot or mecho-gecko and send it to
climb as high as possible. A hardwire controls the satellite robot and feeds
transmissions to the antenna.

Alternately
the comms-crab can use HF/shortwave transmissions. HF transmissions can have a
global range since shortwaves reflect from the ionosphere. Unfortunately this
requires an antenna that takes several minutes to deploy or recover. A HF
antenna is a T-shaped construction of wire that may be tens of metres across.
The comms-crab deploys this using three small helibots; one at the centre and
one at each end. The helibots are designed so their systems minimize interference
with the antenna’s performance. If possible the terminal helibots will anchor
themselves to a high point. Robo-roaches are used to adjust the antenna.

The
comms-crab has a secondary SIGINT role, monitoring and recording local
transmissions.

The
comms-crab's main defence is its ability to hide. The legs can be used for
digging but it is more common that existing hollows or animal burrows are used.
Comms-crabs are also likely to hide in the high boughs of trees. A comms-crab
may have several hiding places some distance from the areas from which it
broadcasts.

There
are many models of comms-crab in service with various nations and
organizations. Variants optimized for operation in various environments exist. The
basic design is also highly adaptable. A system deployed in an urban
environment may be fitted with legs suited to climbing walls, or a unit uses in
a desert may be fitted with solar-powered cooling systems.

If
enemy surveillance is suspected security detachments may be sent on “crab-hunts”.
Ideally a crab is to be captured before it can broadcast its collected reports.
Examination of the memory banks may indicate how much the enemy may know. The
crab’s hiding abilities make such operations highly challenging. A crab may incorporate
a thermite self-destruct charge which it will activate if it is likely to be
captured and is not quickly disabled.